Willow Shields

After a short career with just a few appearances, actress Willow Shields' natural talent and professional drive helped her land a highly coveted part in "The Hunger Games" (2012), an adaptation of Suz...
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Soul legend Patti Labelle is set to show off her fancy footwork alongside Lmfao's Redfoo and actress Rumer Willis as contestants on the upcoming season of America's Dancing With The Stars. Veteran actress Suzanne Somers, The Hunger Games' Willow Shields, Glee actor Riker Lynch, model Charlotte McKinney, gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and Michael Sam, the first openly-gay player in the National Football League (NFL), will also compete on the dancefloor on the 10th year of the reality show.
At 14, Shields will be the youngest-ever competitor on the programme.
During the big line-up reveal on U.S. breakfast show Good Morning America on Tuesday (24Feb15), cancer survivor Somers says, "This is my opportunity to see if all the hormones and vitamins I've been taking all these years really pay off, so we'll see!"
And Willis, the eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, reveals her famous parents will be cheering her on all the way, adding, "They're really excited."
Dancing With the Stars' season 20 will kick off on 16 March (15).

Lionsgate
Hunger Games fans get ready to celebrate (and cry)... The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 official trailer has finally been released and it’s everything we could want, and then some. After waiting for what feels like a lifetime, fans are losing their minds over the trailer.
Watch the trailer before, so you can see if you have the same reaction as others:
People were tweeting about it, before the trailer even dropped:
we're gonna die in a few hours bc mockingjay trailer pic.twitter.com/8ojLRHknYt
— TODAY // 3 HOURS (@lawrxncejen) September 15, 2014
who's going to be at school tomorrow asking for a bathroom pass just so you can get out of class to watch the Mockingjay Part 1 trailer?!?
— Willow Shields (@WillowShields) September 15, 2014
Hey Prim, if we were still in school, that would totally be us.
WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THE MOCKINGJAY TRAILER WE HAVE WAITED SO LONG FOR IT AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING IT TOMORROW
— PerksOfBeingAFanboy. (@LiamKelsall) September 14, 2014
we're not just getting the Mockingjay trailer tomorrow we're also getting cast interviews and exclusive photos HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE
— PerksOfBeingAFanboy. (@LiamKelsall) September 14, 2014
Before even seeing it, people predicted how important it was going to be:
when you're giving birth but the mockingjay trailer is being released pic.twitter.com/QKckuWSET6
— Harry Potter (@HtothePotter) September 15, 2014
Then the trailer actually released:
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MOCKINGJAY TRAILER LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW INCREDIBLE JENNIFER'S PERFORMANCE IS, LET'S TALK ABOUT PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN
— 1989 (@TSwizzleLoves13) September 15, 2014
Peeta was everyone’s first priority:
"Or you will find another Mockingjay!" #MockingjayPart1Trailer #TheMockingjayLives pic.twitter.com/xXVoEMckhJ
— lαrcнα dιvergeηтe ོ (@CorredoraOsada) September 15, 2014
"You will rescue Peeta at the earliest opportunity or you will find another Mockingjay!"
— Domi (@RealLoveDE) September 15, 2014
All of Us: YEAH YOU BETTER SAVE PEETA!
People were so excited, they couldn’t spell:
MOCKINGJAY TRAILER IM SO DCITED
— juliane (@pieterseidek) September 15, 2014
It made people very emotional:
The Mockingjay trailer got me like pic.twitter.com/cT421fnawm
— anita • mr grey (@damonwithelena) September 15, 2014
the mockingjay trailer gives me chills, i'm so emotional right now!
— Mr. Grey (@Deedou13) September 15, 2014
oh my god the mockingjay trailer!!!! I am so excited!!!!!!!
— bucky (@clintbartontbh) September 15, 2014
the mockingjay part 1 trailer oh god everything has led to this and i'm so fjsnfjskdgmd
— z (@zaiirraa) September 15, 2014
I got goose bumps while watching Mockingjay Part 1 trailer.. Shoot those Mockijets, Katniss! :))))))))
— Dan Nikkoli Soria (@tanDANgsoria) September 15, 2014
omfg the mockingjay trailer was so... http://t.co/SVRbyyPZTa
— artsy (@thenerdhub) September 15, 2014
Everyone already knows this movie is going to be good:
Mockingjay looks out of this world. Whoa.
— Queen of Books (@AlanaBWaters) September 15, 2014
OMG MOCKINGJAY LOOKS SOO GOOD!!
— ALL BECAUSE OF EMMA (@EmmaWatsonU2) September 15, 2014
They’re even going as far to suggest it’ll be better than the book:
Mockingjay is already better than the book based on the trailer. I think I know what point in book the movies are going to be split.
— Ryan Kilkenny (@ryanstweeting11) September 15, 2014
Let’s hope.
People demanded the movie:
I can't get over that Mockingjay trailer. Everything looks perfect - from the beautiful visuals to the amazing acting. I need the movie NOW!
— THGAustralia.com (@THGAustralia) September 15, 2014
OOOHHH YESSSSSSSS MOCKINGJAY TRAILER IS SO GOOD OMG YES I WANT THE FILM NOWWWWWW
— Rawson Ny Ndublet (@HeartbeatCharly) September 15, 2014
To quote President Snow, “It’s the things we love the most that destroy us.”
But this actually will detroy us. #TheMockingjayLives
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Lions Gate via Everett Collection
It's quite a rare thing; a film adaptation that surpasses its book counterpart. But The Hunger Games: Catching Fire does it quite handily. Now, I mean no disrespect to the books; I'm a huge fan of them as well – in fact, one of the things I appreciated about this movie was its faithfulness to the books. But a handful of tweaks here and there (along with some great casting, performances, and directing) brought this movie to the next level, and here's a few reasons why:
6. A lot of the acting in this film takes material from the book and elevates it into something really special – for example, Katniss' speech to District 11 is lovely to begin with, but when you have extremely talented actress Jennifer Lawrence delivering it? You've got a theater full of crying audience members in the first 15 minutes of the film.
5. Gale gets his public flogging for protecting an innocent, rather than for poaching a turkey. I think we can all get behind this change.
4. Adding in a lascivious Haymitch to the infamous Johanna/elevator scene was a touch of genius. As was the wink and the "let's do this again sometime."
3. The changes to the interview scene were all great – it gave us a chance to fall in love with Johanna and Finnick even more. Plus, in the book, Johanna only asks Caesar "if something can't be done about the situation" – it's the movie that granted us her emphatic "F**K THAT!"
2. Allowing Effie to say goodbye to Katniss and Peeta made for an unexpectedly touching scene.
1. The convoluted plan that (pretty much) everyone but Katniss and Peeta are in on is clearer in the film – in part, this is due to the added scenes between President Snow and Plutarch Heavensbee. Plus, having Finnick be the one to remind Katniss of "the real enemy" (at arrowpoint, no less) was a great dramatic touch that helped things come full circle.
BONUS: I think we can all agree that Sam Claflin is more handsome than we ever could have imagined Finnick.
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Lions Gate via Everett Collection
When we last left our heroes, they had conquered all opponents in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, returned home to their newly refurbished living quarters in District 12, and fallen haplessly to the cannibalism of PTSD. And now we're back! Hitching our wagons once again to laconic Katniss Everdeen and her sweet-natured, just-for-the-camera boyfriend Peeta Mellark as they gear up for a second go at the Capitol's killing fields.
But hold your horses — there's a good hour and a half before we step back into the arena. However, the time spent with Katniss and Peeta before the announcement that they'll be competing again for the ceremonial Quarter Quell does not drag. In fact, it's got some of the film franchise's most interesting commentary about celebrity, reality television, and the media so far, well outweighing the merit of The Hunger Games' satire on the subject matter by having Katniss struggle with her responsibilities as Panem's idol. Does she abide by the command of status quo, delighting in the public's applause for her and keeping them complacently saturated with her smiles and curtsies? Or does Katniss hold three fingers high in opposition to the machine into which she has been thrown? It's a quarrel that the real Jennifer Lawrence would handle with a castigation of the media and a joke about sandwiches, or something... but her stakes are, admittedly, much lower. Harvey Weinstein isn't threatening to kill her secret boyfriend.
Through this chapter, Katniss also grapples with a more personal warfare: her devotion to Gale (despite her inability to commit to the idea of love) and her family, her complicated, moralistic affection for Peeta, her remorse over losing Rue, and her agonizing desire to flee the eye of the public and the Capitol. Oftentimes, Katniss' depression and guilty conscience transcends the bounds of sappy. Her soap opera scenes with a soot-covered Gale really push the limits, saved if only by the undeniable grace and charisma of star Lawrence at every step along the way of this film. So it's sappy, but never too sappy.
In fact, Catching Fire is a masterpiece of pushing limits as far as they'll extend before the point of diminishing returns. Director Francis Lawrence maintains an ambiance that lends to emotional investment but never imposes too much realism as to drip into territories of grit. All of Catching Fire lives in a dreamlike state, a stark contrast to Hunger Games' guttural, grimacing quality that robbed it of the life force Suzanne Collins pumped into her first novel.
Once we get to the thunderdome, our engines are effectively revved for the "fun part." Katniss, Peeta, and their array of allies and enemies traverse a nightmare course that seems perfectly suited for a videogame spin-off. At this point, we've spent just enough time with the secondary characters to grow a bit fond of them — deliberately obnoxious Finnick, jarringly provocative Johanna, offbeat geeks Beedee and Wiress — but not quite enough to dissolve the mystery surrounding any of them or their true intentions (which become more and more enigmatic as the film progresses). We only need adhere to Katniss and Peeta once tossed in the pit of doom that is the 75th Hunger Games arena, but finding real characters in the other tributes makes for a far more fun round of extreme manhunt.
But Catching Fire doesn't vie for anything particularly grand. It entertains and engages, having fun with and anchoring weight to its characters and circumstances, but stays within the expected confines of what a Hunger Games movie can be. It's a good one, but without shooting for succinctly interesting or surprising work with Katniss and her relationships or taking a stab at anything but the obvious in terms of sending up the militant tyrannical autocracy, it never even closes in on the possibility of being a great one.
3.5/5
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What is Jennifer Lawrence's Hunger Games: Catching Fire character Katniss Everdeen really thinking in this newly released still?
In the beginning of Catching Fire, Katniss returns from her big win at post-apocalyptic nation Panem's annual death match. She managed to outrun burly boys and girls aiming to put a sword through her skull, avoid killing anyone in the process (mostly), and come out the victor — all while pissing off the higher ups for letting her District 12 teammate Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) live. Quite the ordeal. Must feel good to come home and hug her sister Primrose (Willow Shields).
But dig a bit deeper into this intimate moment. Remember: Prim's name was originally called for the 74th Annual Hunger Games. In an unprecedented move, Katniss willingly substituted herself for her younger sister. It was basically a death sentence, the chances of Katniss returning home alive being slim to none. If Prim had been sent off to the Hunger Games, she would likely have gone the way of Rue (the little girl in the first movie who kicked the bucket). Prim should be thanking her lucky stars.
But she's not! Prim is basically falling asleep on Katniss' shoulder. So while it's easy to read this as a warm, loving embrace between two sisters, you can imagine that older sister Katniss might be a little irked by li'l Prim's attitude. She should be bowing at her feet, not acting casual. Show a little appreciation, Prim!
If Katniss was the kind of gal who wore emotions on her sleeve, her reaction here might have been a full on bitch face. Instead, it's a bit more of a poker face, internalizing the everlasting struggle between siblings while making nice for the photo op.
So is this just the sweetest picture ever or is anyone else sensing a bit of resentment between Katniss and her unscathed little sis? Project your own sibling rivalries on to the latest look at Catching Fire in the comments.
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
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In a post-Harry Potter Avatar and Lord of the Rings world the descriptors "sci-fi" and "fantasy" conjure up particular imagery and ideas. The Hunger Games abolishes those expectations rooting its alternate universe in a familiar reality filled with human characters tangible environments and terrifying consequences. Computer graphics are a rarity in writer/director Gary Ross' slow-burn thriller wisely setting aside effects and big action to focus on star Jennifer Lawrence's character's emotional struggle as she embarks on the unthinkable: a 24-person death match on display for the entire nation's viewing pleasure. The final product is a gut-wrenching mature young adult fiction adaptation diffused by occasional meandering but with enough unexpected choices to keep audiences on their toes.
Panem a reconfigured post-apocalyptic America is sectioned off into 12 unique districts and ruled under an iron thumb by the oppressive leaders of The Capitol. To keep the districts producing their specific resources and prevent them from rebelling The Capitol created The Hunger Games an annual competition pitting two 18-or-under "tributes" from each district in a battle to the death. During the ritual tribute "Reaping " teenage Katniss (Lawrence) watches as her 12-year-old sister Primrose is chosen for battle—and quickly jumps to her aid becoming the first District 12 citizen to volunteer for the games. Joined by Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) a meek baker's son and the second tribute Effie the resident designer and Haymitch a former Hunger Games winner-turned-alcoholic-turned-mentor Katniss rides off to The Capitol to train and compete in the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
The greatest triumph of The Hunger Games is Ross' rich realization of the book's many worlds: District 12 is painted as a reminiscent Southern mining town haunting and vibrant; The Capitol is a utopian metropolis obsessed with design and flair; and The Hunger Games battleground is a sprawling forest peppered with Truman Show-esque additions that remind you it's all being controlled by overseers. The small-scale production value adds to the character-first approach and even when the story segues to larger arenas like a tickertape parade in The Capitol's grand Avenue of Tributes hall it's all about Katniss.
For fans the script hits every beat a nearly note-for-note interpretation of author Suzanne Collins' original novel—but those unfamiliar shouldn't worry about missing anything. Ross knows his way around a sharp screenplay (he's the writer of Big Pleasantville and Seabiscuit) and he's comfortable dropping us right into the action. His characters are equally as colorful as Panem Harrelson sticking out as the former tribute enlivened by the chance to coach winners. He's funny he's discreet he's shaded—a quality all the cast members share. As a director Ross employs a distinct often-grating perspective. His shaky cam style emphasizes the reality of the story but in fight scenarios—and even simple establishing shots of District 12's goings-on—the details are lost in motion blur.
But the dread of the scenario is enough to make Hunger Games an engrossing blockbuster. The lead-up to the actual competition is an uncomfortable and biting satire of reality television sports and everything that commands an audience in modern society. Katniss' brooding friend Gale tells her before she departs "What if nobody watched?" speculating that carnage might end if people could turn away. Unfortunately they can't—forcing Katniss and Peeta to become "stars" of the Hunger Games. The duo are pushed to gussy themselves up put on a show and play up their romance for better ratings. Lawrence channels her reserved Academy Award-nominated Winter's Bone character to inhabit Katniss' frustration with the system. She's great at hunting but she doesn't want to kill. She's compassionate and considerate but has no interest in bowing down to the system. She's a leader but she knows full well she's playing The Capitol's game. Even with 23 other contestants vying for the top spot—like American Idol with machetes complete with Ryan Seacrest stand-in Caesar Flickerman (the dazzling Stanley Tucci)—Katniss' greatest hurdle is internal. A brave move for a movie aimed at a young audience.
By the time the actual Games roll around (the movie clocks in at two and a half hours) there's a need to amp up the pace that never comes and The Hunger Games loses footing. Katniss' goal is to avoid the action hiding in trees and caves waiting patiently for the other tributes to off themselves—but the tactic isn't all that thrilling for those watching. Luckily Lawrence Hutcherson and the ensemble of young actors still deliver when they cross paths and particular beats pack all the punch an all-out deathwatch should. PG-13 be damned the film doesn't skimp on the bloodshed even when it comes to killing off children. The Hunger Games bites off a lot for the first film of a franchise and does so bravely and boldly. It may not make it to the end alive but it doesn't go down without a fight.
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The film will be the young star's first full length feature.
She'll play Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence's little sister in the movie and director Gary Ross is thrilled the have her onboard.
He says, "It's so exciting to find an amazing young actress like the one we just met. Prim is an emotionally demanding role and in many ways she is the cornerstone of the story. Willow Shields will make an amazing Prim and we're very lucky to have her."

Well, now they’re just messing with us. The producers behind The Hunger Games adaptation let us all sit back and rage our opinions on who should play the two main characters. After we nearly came to blows, they pick their parts and we’re all mostly satisfied. But then they barely give us a chance to contemplate the rest of the roster! They just keep churning out casting announcements left and right. First it was Effie, then Thresh and Rue. The latest development is the adorable Prim, Katniss’ sister. She’ll be played by newbie Willow Shields, who's only credit is an episode of In Plain Sight (ask your mom about it) and a forthcoming TV movie called Beyond the Blackboard. At this point, I’m just glad they’re casting people for the roles.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Summary

After a short career with just a few appearances, actress Willow Shields' natural talent and professional drive helped her land a highly coveted part in "The Hunger Games" (2012), an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' 2008 international bestseller. Shields was born on June 1, 2000 in Albuquerque, NM, and was raised with her two siblings, twin sister Autumn and older brother River, who were also actors. The home schooled future star landed her earliest job with a voice-over stint in the short film "Las Vegas New Mexico 1875," followed by a guest starring role on the crime drama series "In Plain Sight" (USA Network, 2008- ), about a feisty U.S. Marshall (Mary McCormack) who hunts down witnesses in the federal witness protection program while trying to raise her own dysfunctional family. Shields had a featured role as a homeless child on the made-for-TV movie drama "Beyond the Blackboard" (CBS, 20111), about a first-time teacher who overcomes her initial fears after teaching homeless children in a makeshift classroom.